With Pemberton transferred, USS Peleliu cleared to leave PHL

Following the transfer of Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton, suspect in the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey Laude, to Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, the US warship he was detailed to has been cleared to leave the Philippines.

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PNoy: I can defend myself from lawsuits after my term

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday expressed confidence that he can defend himself from possible lawsuits once he ends his term in June 2016.

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PNoy assures: Pemberton won’t be treated with kid gloves

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said that US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, the suspect in the killing of Filipina transgender Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, is not be treated with kid gloves.

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PNoy: Expect ‘significant accomplishments’ in campaign vs. Abu Sayyaf

President Benigno Aquino on Wednesday said the public can expect "significant accomplishments" in the government's campaign against the Abu Sayyaf bandit group in the coming weeks.

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PNoy counters VP Binay’s camp: ‘I didn’t offer to help’

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday categorically denied offering help to Vice President Jejomar Binay on corruption allegations.

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Trillanes accuses VP Binay’s camp of bribing witness in Makati building probe

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday accused the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay of bribing a potential witness in the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall building II to prevent it from testifying before the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee.

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Miriam Santiago: VFA is a failure

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Wednesday called the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States a "failure."

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PNoy: ‘Farfetched’ to junk VFA to stop crime involving Pinoys, Americans

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said it would be "farfetched" to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States for the purpose of stopping crimes involving Filipinos and Americans.

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Malaysia refuses to extradite Aman Futures’ Amalilio

The Malaysian government has refused to extradite Aman Futures boss Manuel Amalilio to the Philippines, even after the alleged mastermind of the pyramid scam was released from jail there.

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PNoy: PHL ties with China ‘improving’ despite territorial row

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said the Philippines' ties with China are actually "improving" despite the territorial row between the two countries.

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Senate blue ribbon committee to invite VP Binay to Makati building probe

The Senate blue ribbon committee on Wednesday said it will be inviting Vice President Jejomar Binay to attend the investigation into the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

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Trader Antonio Tiu to file defamation charges vs. Trillanes

Businessman Antonio Tiu is set to file defamation charges against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, his lawyer said Wednesday.

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Bilibid inmates seek audience with Pope Francis

Inmates of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City have sought an audience with Pope Francis when he visits the Philippines in January 2015.

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Laude family leaves for Senate hearing on Jennifer’s killing

The family of slain transgender woman Jennifer Laude left their Olongapo City residence early Wednesday to attend a Senate hearing on the incident.

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Pemberton counsel could be preparing to go straight to trial on Laude case – prosecutor

The investigation into the alleged killing of Filipino transgender Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude by US Marine PFC Joseph Scott Pemberton could end soon, with the case then proceeding to trial, if the American serviceman's legal counsel chooses not to submit their counter-affidavit during the preliminary investigation.

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Jinggoy request for Nov 1 leave a ‘mockery of justice’ – Government lawyers

The prosecutors of the plunder and graft cases against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday blocked the detained senator’s request to be given five hours to visit his departed family and friends on November 1.

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PHL ready to stop and contain Ebola virus, says DOH chief

Hospitals and Department of Health facilities tasked to screen and treat people for Ebola are ready with protective suits and special equipment needed to respond to any suspected Ebola cases, Secretary Enrique Ona said in a news conference Tuesday.

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VP Binay says he may consider Senate invitation to ongoing probe

Vice President Jejomar Binay is now open to appearing before the Senate to respond to allegations of graft and corruption, GMA News reported in its evening newscasts, but only if it is the Senate Blue Blue Ribbon Committee that invites him and not a subcommittee.

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'Your friend killed my friend': What Pemberton's Marine pals recall about night of Laude killing

Three colleagues of US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton have revealed what they remember about what happened on the night Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude was killed.

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Osmeña wants to cut APECO’s budget to P40 million

Instead of a proposed budget of P250 million for 2015, Senator Sergio Osmeña III will be pushing for a caretaker budget of only 40 million for the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), saying it is just a waste of people’s money.

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Cayetano to bare documents showing VP Binay owns Batangas property on Wednesday

All documents lead to Vice President Jejomar Binay as the owner of the 350-hectare property in Batangas, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Tuesday, a day before the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee resumes its hearing on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II.

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Sandiganbayan allows Mike Arroyo to travel to HK, Japan

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Tuesday allowed former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to travel to Hong Kong and Japan.

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Pangasinan governor, 13 others face graft charges over black sand mining

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft charges against Pangasinan governor Amado Espino and 13 others for allegedly engaging in illegal black sand mining trade in the Lingayen Gulf area.

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Defaced Lotto ticket keeps Batangas man from being a multimillionaire

Even with several lawmakers on his side, Calaca, Batangas resident Antonio Mendoza is not getting his P12 million, the amount he claimed to have won in a 6/42 Lotto draw earlier this month. At least not yet.

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Palace: Yolanda rehab undertaken prior to master plan’s approval

The government started rebuilding areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) even prior to President Benigno Aquino III's approval of the rehabilitation master plan, Malacañang clarified Tuesday.

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Prosecution wants Pemberton to attend Oct. 27 prelim probe

The prosecution panel in the Jeffrey Laude slay case on Tuesday asked that Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, the main suspect, be allowed to attend the next preliminary investigation on Monday, October 27.

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Pemberton no-show at preliminary investigation for Laude slay

OLONGAPO CITY - US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, the suspect in the killing of Filipino transgender Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude in Olongapo City, did not attend the murder case's preliminary investigation on Tuesday.

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VP Binay on critics: They want me out of 2016 polls

Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is facing a corruption probe at the Senate and the Ombudsman, on Tuesday said various allegations have been thrown against him because his critics want him out of the 2016 presidential elections.

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EDCA oral arguments set for Nov. 18

Oral arguments for the petitions contesting the legality of the Philippines' Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States will be held on November 18, Supreme Court Public Information Office chief and spokesperson Theodore Te said Tuesday.

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SC affirms dismissal of Sandiganbayan Justice Gregory Ong

The Supreme Court has affirmed its earlier decision to dismiss Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong over his supposed links with alleged pork barrel fund scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

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Kerry: US not seeking special treatment for Pemberton

The United States will not seek special treatment for US Marines Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton in the investigation on the killing of transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude in Olongapo City, US Secretary of State John Kerry said.

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De Lima: DOJ probe vs. VP Binay in support of Ombudsman investigation

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday said there was no problem in considering the probe being conducted by her department as a support effort to the Ombudsman's investigation on the corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay.

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De Lima: ‘Appropriate’ to demand custody of Pemberton when arrest warrant comes out

While the government plans to insist on getting custody of US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, the "appropriate time" to do so will be when the court has issued a warrant of arrest against him, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Tuesday.

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Militants picket Olongapo hall of justice before Pemberton’s prelim investigation

Militant groups picketed before noon Tuesday the Olongapo City Hall of Justice where the preliminary investigation of Pfc. Joseph Pemberton, the suspect in the killing of transgender woman Jennifer Laude, was to take place.

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Kin, ‘Barbie’ to attend Senate probe on Laude’s killing

The family of transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude and one of the witnesses have confirmed their attendance to the Senate probe on the killing set on Wednesday.

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DOH sets up triage screening tents for potential Ebola, MERS-CoV cases

The Department of Health on Tuesday set up a triage screening tent for potential cases of Ebola virus disease and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City.

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Laude’s German fiancé dares Pemberton: Face slay probe

Marc Sueselbeck, the German fiancé of slain transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude, has challenged suspect US Marines Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton to face the investigation on the killing, a television report said Tuesday.

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CBCP: Slow judicial process a continued bane for prisoners

The country's slow justice system remains a bane for most prisoners languishing in jails with poor conditions, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said Tuesday.

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Pre-trial hearing of Tiamzon couple deferred anew; rallyists outnumber cops

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 81 on Tuesday deferred the pre-trial hearing of suspected communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon over the kidnapping and serious illegal detention cases filed against them.

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9 Fil-Am groups to get $100k for projects in Yolanda-affected areas

At least nine Filipino-American groups will get $100,000 (P4.485 million) grants from a group seeking to help victims of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) rebuild their lives and communities.

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Picket prompts suspension of work at QC Hall of Justice

No thanks to an early morning picket by militant groups, court hearings at the Quezon City Hall of Justice were suspended for the day on Tuesday. The militants picketed the facility to demand the release of so-called political prisoners - including Communist Party of the Philippines "power couple" Wilma and Benito Tiamzon.

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Cops, barricades secure Olongapo Hall of Justice for Pemberton prelim probe

Barricades and uniformed police personnel secured the Olongapo City Hall of Justice for the preliminary investigation of US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton over the killing of transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude.

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PHL has primary custody over US servicemen involved in crimes in the country —lawyer

A lawyer clarified that the Philippines has the automatic jurisdiction over a US serviceman involved in a crime in the country, a report on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho aired on Monday said.

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Violence against gays ‘contrary to Gospel spirit’, CBCP head reminds Catholics

Violence, whether verbal or physical, against homosexuals is an offense against God, the head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said Sunday night.

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PNoy: Yolanda rehab taking time because of procedures

The rehabilitation of areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) is taking time to complete because the government wants to do it right, President Benigno Aquino III said Monday.

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Speaker Belmonte: VFA needed for PHL’s defense posture

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Monday thumbed down proposals to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) despite the alleged involvement of a US Marine in the recent death of a transgender Filipina, saying the incident should not affect the Philippines’ defense strategy.

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CA allows De Lima to resolve review plea of Gerry Ortega kin

The Court of Appeals has allowed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to resolve the petition filed by the family of slain environmentalist Gerry Ortega against the junking of complaint against the suspects, which include former Palawan governor Joel Reyes.

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Show up at Senate probe, Belmonte urges Binay

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Monday urged Vice President Jejomar Binay to finally appear at the Senate to answer allegations of corruption raised against him and his family at hearings there.

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Laude’s fiancé emotional at wake, continues to seek justice

Marc Sueselbeck turned emotional the moment he saw the remains of Jeffrey (Jennifer) Laude in Ologanpo City, a report on 24 Oras on Monday showed.

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Chief NDFP negotiator accuses military of war crimes in Abra

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) committed "atrocious war crimes" during military operations in Lacub, Abra last September, the chairman of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) negotiating panel said Monday.

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